Armed suspects allegedly open fire on Pakistan Customs team during anti-smuggling raid in Hayatabad before fleeing with suspected smuggled goods.
PESHAWAR: Two Pakistan Customs personnel were injured after armed suspects allegedly opened fire on an enforcement team during an anti-smuggling operation in Peshawar’s Hayatabad area on Saturday, according to an incident report issued by the Collectorate of Customs (Enforcement), Peshawar.
The incident took place at around 10:00 a.m. at Jahaz Chowk in Phase-III, Hayatabad, where the Intelligence & Special Checking Squad was conducting a routine operation targeting the transportation of smuggled goods.
According to the report, a Customs team led by Inspector Muhammad Areeb intercepted two Chingchi rickshaws arriving from Karkhano Market on suspicion of carrying smuggled cloth.
While officials were inspecting the vehicles, five individuals allegedly arrived at the scene in a white Suzuki Swift bearing registration number BDS-211.
The incident report identified three of the suspects as Noor Rahman, son of Gul Rahman, Abdul Rahman, son of Noor Rahman, and Shakeel, son of Khan Sahib, while the identities of two other suspects have yet to be established.
Customs authorities alleged that the suspects obstructed officials from performing their lawful duties and engaged in a physical altercation with the enforcement team.
During the confrontation, Noor Rahman allegedly opened indiscriminate fire with a pistol on the Customs personnel.
As a result, Sepoy Muhammad Luqman, son of Amir Jan, sustained a gunshot wound to his left arm near the elbow, while Sepoy Faisal Shah suffered a minor injury below his ear.
Authorities said the suspects exploited the ensuing chaos to flee the scene in the Suzuki Swift along with the two Chingchi rickshaws that were allegedly transporting smuggled cloth.
A First Information Report (FIR) has been registered against the nominated suspects at Police Station Hayatabad, and police have launched an investigation to arrest the accused and recover the escaped vehicles and the suspected smuggled goods.
Pakistan Customs strongly condemned the attack, stating that violence against enforcement personnel would not deter the department from carrying out its legal responsibilities.
The department reaffirmed its commitment to intensifying intelligence-led anti-smuggling operations and enforcing customs laws to protect government revenue, curb illicit trade and safeguard the country’s economic interests.